Critter Capsules #2! Sockeye Salmon

The Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)! The Sockeye is, like many other salmon, Anadromous, which means it is born in freshwater, where it lives until maturity before migrating to live the rest of its adult life at sea. It then returns to the same body of freshwater it was born in order to spawn. When ready to mate, Sockeye Salmon will turn a garish bright red and green color (as opposed to the more muted silver of their youth) and males will experience massive growth in body width, snout length, and hump height! Sockeye are also Semelparous, meaning their body breaks down and they die right after mating. Some Sockeye (called Kokanee Salmon) also never leave for the sea, instead preferring to live their whole lives in their freshwater home. But in this economy, can you really blame them?